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B"H
QUESTION: Why is it that we hold our fingernails up to the flame of a candle on Motz'ei Shabbos (the recess of the Sabbath)? ANSWER: We have received by an oral tradition that Adam was created with a nail-like covering of lamina over his entire body (since the Torah makes no mention of Adam's body). With this protective covering, he saw the reflection of the light from the first fire which he had struck by using two stones. This discovery of fire occurred at the recess of the Sabbath day. (See: Pesachim 54a and Pirke Rebbe Eliezer - with a slight variation.) Whence it is that at the recess of the Sabbath, when three stars have appeared in the night sky (excluding the planet Venus), we take up fragrant spices, and a candle, and wine, and make a blessing over each. The candle's flame is reminiscent of the first man, Adam, who lit the first fire. The fragrant spices come to restore within us a sense of joy- lost, as it were, at the parting of a portion of our "double spirit," and which leaves us at each Sabbath's departure. It should be noted here that we do not make use of the candle at the conclusion of a Festival Day (Heb. Yom Tov); neither do we take up fragrant spices. For these two traditions are reserved strictly for the Sabbath day and its conclusion. |
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B"H
QUOTE: "It should be noted here that we do not make use of the candle at the conclusion of a Festival Day (Heb. Yom Tov); neither do we take up fragrant spices. For these two traditions are reserved strictly for the Sabbath day and its conclusion." The one exception to this rule is at the recess of Kippur (Motzei Kippur). The order which we make use of in the Havdallah ceremony is to bless, first, over the cup [of wine], followed by [the blessing] over the candle, and, lastly, the [blessing known as] 'Hamavdil' (lit. 'He who distinguishes between holy and profane,' etc.). One does not bless over a candle at the conclusion of Yom Kippur except over that candle which remained lit throughout the entire day of Yom Kippur, as though it had rested from any transgressor who would have otherwise struck a fire to light that candle on a day that is parallel to a Sabbath. (RASHI on Berakhoth 53a, s.v., למ"ש מברכין). See also Genesis Rabba, Parashas Vayishlach, section # 82:17, on why this was enacted. David |
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